Separating and grading machine.



PATENTBD NOV. 10, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1899.

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PATENTED NOV. 10, I903;

D. SEWELL. SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 14,1899 s SHEEN-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED NOV, 10, 1903.

D. SEWBLL. SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1899.

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N0 MODEL.

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PATBNTED NOV. 10, 1903.

D. SEWELL. SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE.

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PATENTED NOV. 10,1903.

D. SBWELL. SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE,

APPLIUATIOH FILED HOV.'14, 1899.

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NO MODEL.

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PATENT-- iatented November 10, 1903.

FFICEQ DELOS SEVVELL, OF HILLSDALE, MICHIGAN.

SEPARATING AND GRADING NlACl-HNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 743,574, datedNovember 10, 1903.

Application filed November 14, 1899. $erial No. 736,937. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DELOs SEWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hillsdale, county of Hillsdale, State of Michigan, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Separating and GradingMachines; and I declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such.

novel features of the construction and combi nations hereinafter pointedou'tand claimed. In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of myseparating device with the casing removed and with only one sieve shown.Fig. 2 is a right-hand end view of the machine with the same interiorconstruction, but with slight modifications in the mode of hanging orsupporting the sieves, also showing the hopper, which is. omitted fromFig. 1 in dotted outlines. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a sieveshoe with thesieve therein. Fig. 4 is a crosssection view of Fig. 3 on the line anac. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the lines y y of Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is an elevation of the operative parts of the complete apparatuswith the casing removed, indicating certain modifications, together witha multiplicity of sieve-shoes and sieves in the construction of thevibratory frame, also indicating an exhaust or air-circulating apparatusand also a dust-collecting device. Fig. 7 is a left-hand view of amodification of the apparatus,showinga multiplicity of sieves andsieve-shoes. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the lines Z Z ofFig. 4.

Similar characters referto similar parts.

It will he understood that the modifications hereinabove indicated in nowise show a departure of the apparatus, but are indicative of variationsin details which may be employed.

In the drawings, A represents the frame which carries the structure, andit will be understood that this frame is 'inclosed usually by removablepanels in the ordinary manner,

' thereby making a dusttight box to which external access may be had andinto which material may be delivered by a spout, as at L, Fig. 6, andout of which material may be delivered by suitable conveyors, ashereinafter described. There is nothing particularly novel in theframework and its inclosures, and as they are common to all classes ofseparating devices and as they form no part of my invention it will beunnecessary to describe them in'detail.

B is a sieve-shoe inclosing a sieve-frame O, to which is attached asieve B The shoe B is hung to a subframe A by hangers D, permitting areciprocating or swinging motion of sieve O in shoe B, caused ashereinafter described. Upon each end of the shoe B is attachedcheek-pieces E E, which are adjacent to peculiarly-shaped blocksF F,attached to the frame A by elastic hangers ff, as shown in Fig. 1, orthey may be attached to a cross-piece E, which is in turn attached tothe block F. This form of construction is an alternative one from thatof attaching the hangers directly to the block F and possesses certainslight advantages, inasmuch as the elastic hangers f f are more widelyseparated and given a longer base of suspensional support. Amodification of this form of construction is shown in Fig. 2, whereinthe block F is attached rigidly to the upper por tion of thesieve-frame.

Pins 9 g are rigidly held in the block Fand pass through slots (shown indotted lines) in the cross-bar F whereby a slight horizontal movement ispermitted between the crossbar F and the block F. The lower portion ofeach block F has a'triangular opening F, within which is actuated atriangular rocking beam G. An exactly similar rocking beam operates in asimilar triangular opening in a corresponding block at the opposite sideof the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 7.

The subframes A A are sustained by posts A A which are so thinned downor cut away at Ct at that they are rendered elastic, the lower ends a abeing rigidly fastened to the general framework A.

The lower portion of the frame A carries on either side wide beams A Aand the rocking beams G are each pivotally attached thereto by means ofa pin g, supported on its outer extremity by the bar G, which is in turnrigidly supported at its ends by the curved blocks G G secured to thebeams A Appropriately supported at the ends of the curved blocks G G2are elastic buffers H H, against which the rocking beam G impinges as itswings or rocks.

The posts A A are pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the rockingbeam G by connect ing-arms G3 G so that the rocking or swinging of therocking beam G is communicated to the posts A A and the frame A. It willbe noted, therefore, that the shoe B is hung from the vibrating frame Aand loosely held by means of the cheek-pieces E E in connectiontherewith and that as the block F is vibrated on the springs ffand asthe frames A vibrate the shoe is caused to oscillate through the rangeof motion permitted, which is measured by the greater width between thecheekpieces E E and the width of the block F. Preferably I face theinside of these cheekpieces on the side which comes in contact with theblock F with elastic material, as shown at e e.

The sieve C is supported entirely by fastening the side pieces a c tothe side piece of the shoe B in their centers. The sides 00 of the sieveC are made quite thin and of elastic material, as some elastic wood, andas the end pieces I) b are comparatively much heavier the rapid sidevibration of the sieve tends to produce a tremulous motion, owing to theelasticity of its sides 0 c.

The vibrating beams G G are caused to vibrate or rock by the pitmen J J,which are eccentrically pivoted to the shaft K, which shaft is rotatedrapidly in any convenient manner, the means of rotation not being shown.

The inclination and height of the shoe are made adjustable by set-nuts(1 cl on the lower end of the hangers D D.

The supporting-posts A A are pivotally attached at a to the frames A A,so as to permit the vibration.

The construct-ion of the sieve-shoeis shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 4,5, and 8. In the construction of the sieves I employ rigid stays B B tostay the framework, but which do not touch the cloth, as shown inFig. 1. I employ, however, as a supporting member for the center of thecloth one or more loose stays 13 These are so constructed that thebolting-cloth B (partially illustrated in Fig. 4) is attached to thelower side of these loose stays B while the ends of the stays areloosely held in mortises in the end pieces 1) b of the sieve-frame, oneof the mortises being like shot, balls, or even small chains-thevibratory movements of which being communicated to the cloth jar thestock'from between its meshes, and thus keep the cloth clean. The sizeand weight of these foreign substances depend very largely upon thequality or the rapidity of vibration given to the cloth, and I havefound that by means of the apparatus hereinbefore described I can givesufficient variety and rapidity of vibrations to the cloth so that thestock itself will suffice to keep the meshes of the cloth free fromadherent material, thus doing away with the necessity of employingforeign material for that purpose.

It will be noted that the vibrations are transverse to the inclinationof the sieve. At the foot of the sieve, as Shown in Fig. 4, I haveillustrated a con veyer D in a form which I prefer to employ. The mouthof this conveyer appears in Fig. 1.

In Fig. at I have exaggerated the angle of inclination of the conveyerfor the purpose of bringing out clearly its structure. It will be notedthat the interior surface upon which the stock falls is a step-by-stepsurface, as shown at 01 The steps themselves are preferably horizontal,the only inclination of the conveyer being due to the dropping of eachsucceeding step below that of the preceding one. As the sieve vibratesin the longitudinal' direction of the conveyer its action is tocontinually force the stock downward and out,

ward until it-is delivered into any convenient receptacle.

It is obvious that I may employ more than one sieve and combine them invarious ways with corresponding conveyers and chutes for the delivery ofthe grades into which the stock is separated, and in Fig. 6 I have showna structure employing more than one sieve and conveyers in combinationwith a dust-collector and aspirating apparatus, the structure and modeof operation of which will he readily apprehended by those who areskilled in the art.

It will be understood that the framework A (shown in Fig. 6) isinclosed, preferably, by removable panels in the usual manner and thatit is substantially air-tight, with the exception of the inlet formaterial atL and the discharges. Fig. 6 therefore represents a graderwith the side removed, showing the internal construction, and also-withcertain parts broken away, so as to more clearly illustrate the variedchutes in which the falling material is aspirated by the closed currentof air, as hereinbefore described.

M M M M represent grading-sieves, the material to be graded beingdelivered at the head of the sieve M through the spout L or any of theapproved means for the gradual and regular delivery of material thereto.These graders M M M M are all constructed with frames m m m m which areset into the apparatus and are caused to oscillate transversely bymechanism constructed upon the IIO IZC

principles and having the mode of operation of that described herein andillustrated in Fig. 1, the grading-sieves being also constructed andhaving the mode of operation of that illustrated in Figs. 3 and i. Eachgrading-sieve is mounted upon an internal concentric frame like thatdescribed and illustrated in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, thegrading-cloths also being attached to loose ribs, as therein set forth.

It will be understood that the arrangement of sieves M M M M is anamplification in general of the manner of mounting the single sieveshown in Fig. 1.

Above the main frame A there is located a housing N, which is alsoinclosed with an airtight inclosure. In it is located a fan W, inclosedin a fan-case WV, the fan-case having an opening or eye 10 in the usualmanner and a tangential discharge-tube 10 This discharge-tube isextended until it enters the lower portion of the casing inclosing theframe A, connecting with an air-space in and around the hoppers S S S SThese hoppers are triangular in shape with apex downward, as shown indottedlines in Fig. 2, The sieve M is preferably clothed with two ormore grades of bolting-cloth, the first at the head of the sieve beingthe finest and delivering into the upper end of the sieve h in which acut-off may be placed, if desired. The second grade extends through thecentral portion of the sieve M and delivers its stock into the lowerhalf of the shorter grader M. The lower and coarser portion, if morethan two gradesare used, is at the tail of sieve M and over theaspirating-chamber, the final discharge being delivered into chute S andconveyed away by a conveyor S The aspirating-chamber includes all thespace from the wall 8 around the hoppers S S in which the coarsermaterial is delivered, in which it is drawn through by the risingcurrents of air passing through the falling material, which air-currentsare modified by the construction shown, and thence passing through thecoarser section at the foot of sieve M, carrying with it the fine dustderived from the coarse stock into the dustcollector above the sieve M,through the clothtubes T T of this dust-collector, into the ilOilS ingN, and from thence to the eye of a fan at w.

A suitable valve V is provided by which the air-currents can beregulated and rendered stronger or weaker in the various sectionsoperating upon the Various grades of material, as may be desired. Itwill be observed that the sieve M deposits its sifted material upon thesieve M, as has already been stated. The tailings from this sieve goover into an aspirating-chamber and hopper S. The graded material fromsieve M is deposited on sieve M its tailings going into hopper S and thefine material from this sieve is in turn deposited in sieve M Thematerial passing through thisis delivered into a hopper S i 1 It will beobserved that the tailings from the sieve M are deposited on a chute 4and are subjected to the air-currents which arise through the passage 1,modified by the valve V, and also to the air-currents which arise frompassage 2 after much of the coarser dust arising from the tailings fromthe sieve M has already been deposited therefrom in the hoppers S and S.Thus the air-currents are permitted to produce their whole effect uponthe t-ailings of the sieve M, which are coarser than those of the othersieves and are divided as between M and M, so that only a portion of theair-current is allowed to operate upon the tailings of the sieve M;

I do not need to partic ularize as to the gradings of the cloth nor thespecial grades into which the material is divided, as such mattors areall familiar to millers, as it is obvious that the gradings can beadjusted at will and that the special gradings or manner of dividing thestock into any particular grades does not form any part of my invention.

In Fig. 6 I have indicated a separating and grading machine with aclosed circuit of aircirculation; but aside from the features alreadydescribed the further features necessary to such a machine do not formany part of my present invention and are therefore only indicated ingeneral terms, except as they might be varied very largely or evenradically departed from without departing from the invention claimedherein. It is not deemed necessary todescribe anything more than salientfeatures thereof, it being understood that in consequence of itsillustrating a closed air-circuit the ouside casing is substantiallyairtight, including the supplemental housing N, which only communicateswith the main body through perforations in the top thereof, from whichdepend cloth-tubes R R. These may be attached to or rest upon a shortcoveringi over the upper sieve, the aspirated air passing from theinterior of the sieve-- chamber through the meshes of theclothtubes andout through the openings of the housing N into the interior of thehousing N and from thence to the fan. The dust that collects upon theoutside of the tubes T is jarred from the covering 6 downwardly and uponthe lower end of the sieve M.

.What I claim is- 1. In combination with the rigid casing of aseparating device, an oscillating frame'located therein onspring-supports, a sieveshoe suspended from the top of saidoscillatangular recesses in blocks elastically at-v tached to saidoscillating frame, buffers operating in conjunction with said rockingarms, spring-bar connecting the upper portion of said rocking arms withthe oscillating frame, and means for giving said rocking arms anoscillating motion, substantially as described.

2. In a separating device, the combination of a main frame A,oscillating frames A, supported upon elastic uprights A A said uprightsbeing connected to the bottom portion of the frame A, a sieve-framecarrying a sieve and having elastic members by which it is supported ina shoe B, said shoe being supported by hangers D,D, over the frame A,and carrying cheek-pieces E, E, and means substantially as described forengaging the cheek-pieces and giving said shoe B a vibratory movement bypercussive action, whereby said movement is transmitted to thesieveframe and sieve carried thereby, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a sieve-shoe, means for transversely vibratingsaid shoe, a sieveframe having elastic side pieces secured about midwaybetween their ends to the inner side of the shoe and a sieve-clothattached to said sieve-frame and also to one or more supporting-ribs,said supporting rib or ribs being loosely held at their ends in mortisesin the ends of said sieve-frame in such manner that they have a slightoscillatory rocking motion, due to the vibrations of the sieve,substantially as described.

4. As a cloth-cleaning device, the combination of partially-rotatingbars loosely held in the sieve-frame, and a sieve-cloth attached to

